2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/22/2019 | 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND DEPOSITION, IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER QUALITY, AND AQUATIC CRITICAL LOADS RESEARCH IN THE U.S. SINCE THE 1990 CAAA | 151 DEF
REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND DEPOSITION, IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER QUALITY, AND AQUATIC CRITICAL LOADS RESEARCH IN THE U.S. SINCE THE 1990 CAAA
In the 1980s, emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) mainly in the eastern US had far-reaching impacts on aquatic life from acidification of sensitive waterbodies. The Acid Rain Program (ARP), established under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, requires major emission reductions of SO2 and NOx from the power industry with the intention of decreasing acidic deposition to sensitive systems, allowing aquatic life to recover from acidification. Implementation of subsequent USEPA regulations has further reduced emissions to 1.5 million tons of SO2 from the power sector in 2017, a 91 percent reduction from 1990 levels. NO2 emissions have also declined sharply to 1.2 million tons from the power sector, a 77 percent reduction from 2000 levels. These large reductions in emissions have resulted in marked improvements in air quality and acidic (N & S) deposition. Today total sulfur deposition (wet plus dry) is 88 percent lower than in 1990 across much of the eastern US. As a result, significant improvements in water quality and critical load exceedances (i.e. 70 percent reduction) have occurred, indicating aquatic ecosystems in North America are recovering from acidification.
- Pollution
- Environmental Regulation
- Biogeochemistry
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Presenters/Authors
Jason Lynch
(), US Environmental Protection Agency, lynch.jason@epa.gov;
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